An Inspiring Performance

November 4, 2001

by John K. Bates

There is only one word to describe President Bushs performance
on Tuesday night, when he threw out the first pitch at Game 3 of the World
Series in New York: Inspiring. Mr. Bush - who has grown considerably as
a leader in the past 2 months - smartly marched to home plate in Yankee
Stadium, used the "big" rubber on the mound (not the "little"
one a bit placed a bit closer for the moment) and threw a good pitch.
A strike. And thus, he threw a strike against terrorism and for the American
people, and more importantly the American spirit.

In reality, Americans are still in shock and turmoil over the attacks
of September 11 and the anthrax attacks which have followed. We are nervous
about security and about the economy; afraid to travel and hassled when
we do. We still are suspicious, looking over our collective shoulder,
tuning in the news channels or looking online for latest disaster to be
declared. We are even afraid to open our mail. And as bad as this is,
our new "war" has just begun. It will not end anytime soon;
it may last for years. And unlike previous wars (especially since World
War II), this one has great potential to disrupt our cities, our workplaces,
and our homes.

All of which makes what President Bush did all the more significant.
One can only imagine what was going through the mind of his handlers,
both the political ones and his Secret Service protectors, as he walked
to the mound. How many of us - when we watched the moment as it unfolded
- expected or at least feared a shot to ring out and chaos and tumult
to erupt? How many feared - even slightly - the quick flash of a plane
flying into the stadium and the sight of a fireball right before the picture
would surely have gone blank? How many secretly urged the president -
who after the pitch paused for a photo with managers Bob Brenly and Joe
Torre - to simply get his exposed butt back into the safety of the dugout?

But how many of us were glad he didnt? How many were glad that
he lingered a little bit longer on the field while the audience of 55,000-plus
shouted, "USA! USA! USA!" And how many were inspired by his
simple wave and "thumbs-up" gesture at that moment. How many
more were inspired that the president - the leader of the free world and
clearly the most targeted man on the planet in the eyes of our enemies
- would take such a simple, yet bold, step towards normalcy.

This is the real value in what President Bush did on Tuesday. He did
what leaders are supposed to do - he led by example. He didnt cower
behind his security detail as he did in the first hours of September 11
(an understandable - but crucial - mistake). He didnt simply glad-hand
and hug and feel victims pain from the safety of the dugout or the
owners box. While it is certain he wore the very best body armor
available, he didnt wear any sort of visible protection. He may
have felt fear or apprehension, but he went out of his way not to show
it. In a time when "We, the People" are being told to get on
with our lives, our jobs, and our activities, Mr. Bush did just that.

There is precedent for this type of leadership. In World War II, the
greatest leader was not an American. It was an Englishman, Winston Churchill,
who stood up and became the greatest leader of that or any other generation.
Churchills greatest attribute was not an ability to pass legislation.
Or to compromise and act in a "bipartisan" manner. Or to build
great projects. Or even to cut taxes and grow the economy. What made Churchill
great was an unsurpassed ability to communicate, and especially to communicate
one thing: Courage. Courage in the face of danger. Courage in the face
of unrelenting oppression. And courage in the face of very long odds.
Without this ability, England surely would have fallen to the Nazis. The
world would surely to this day be different. It was by the leadership
of one man that we have enjoyed, and still do enjoy, unsurpassed freedom
and prosperity in America and elsewhere.

To overcome todays new threat will also take a similar type of
courage. George W. Bush is not Winston Churchill. It is doubtful he could
ever even come close. This columnist has been - and will continue to be
- critical of President Bush when he embraces big government and high
taxes. This columnist will also continue to be even more critical of Republicans
and conservatives when they give Republicans in Washington a free pass
to expand government simply because they are Republicans. But it is also
important to recognize when our leaders serve us well. By standing up
and walking to the pitchers mound on Tuesday night, President Bush
was doing what the best presidents and leaders do. No, he wasnt
pushing legislation. He wasnt feeling our pain. He wasnt even
ordering bombs to fly against enemies or speaking from the Oval Office.
He was standing up as a man and leading this nation. By going to New York
at great risk to himself, by standing at Ground Zero, by standing in front
of thousands while being watched by millions, President Bush showed courage.
He started to point the way for Americans to overcome this latest challenge
and this threat to their freedom. He showed that the only way a people
is free is to act like they are free and get on with their lives.